Just like I've been telling all the stupid Eagles fans, we have the
best Def. Backfield in the NFL.

Let The Competition Begin At Corner


Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
May 21, 2003, 6:25 p.m. (CDT)

IRVING, Texas - Trust Bill Parcells when he says no one has earned a
starting job yet.

Even the Darren Woodsons and La'Roi Glovers of the team have to show
him something. Of course, there have been only four practices now for
the veterans, and those two, along with a few others, very well could
have shown Parcells what he needs to see.

But rest assured the majority of the starting spots are still up
grabs, including the two at cornerback.

Ask Parcells, and he'll say the cornerback jobs are wide open.
Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer says the same, and even the players
know the competition will be fierce, with as many as five players
battling for two starting jobs.

One of those five is, of course, first-round pick Terence Newman, who
arrived Wednesday to mini-camp, which was intended for mostly
veterans. Newman is among four rookies at the veteran camp, including
now the first three draft picks.

And while Newman found himself working mainly with the third-team
defense, the Cowboys have shuffled things around a bit, possibly with
Newman in mind.

Third-year veteran Mario Edwards, who has started 31 games the past
two years at right cornerback, has been switched to the left side.
Second-year pro Derek Ross, who started nine games last season as a
rookie on the left side, is now on the right.

So what does that mean?

Nothing, if you ask Zimmer or even some of the players.

But know that Newman has started the majority of his career at left
cornerback and this could be the first step in getting both Newman
and Ross on the field together.

Again, it's super early in the game and the Cowboys defensive
coordinator said not to assume too much.

"I don't think it really means anything right now," Zimmer said after
Wednesday's morning practice. "We're just seeing what we've got.
Newman has played all over the place. He's played both sides before.
So, we'll see how it all shapes up."

Newman indeed has played all over the field in the past, when his
athletic ability allowed him to shadow opponents' top receivers.

"It doesn't matter which side of the field I play," Newman said. "In
high school and college, I used to match up against the best
receiver. So it really didn't matter which side I was on. You just
went out there and played. So, I've just gone to either side before.
I feel confident at either side."

Speaking of confident, the competition at cornerback, which also
includes Donald Mitchell and Pete Hunter, has caught the eye of
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, who returned from the
owners meetings in Philadelphia to catch Wednesday's practice.

"I'm as confident about our secondary as I've been in several years,"
said Jones, referring to not only the cornerback play, but the steady
play of safeties Woodson and Roy Williams. "I think we have a chance
to be much improved back there, if we can stay healthy. But we've got
some good athletes and some speed."

Experience might be lacking for Newman, but speed certainly is not.

His catch-up speed has drawn lofty comparisons to Deion Sanders, and
the Cowboys will likely find every possible way to use that speed.
Newman returned punts and kickoffs in college, and was seen shagging
punts after Wednesday's practice alongside Reggie Swinton and Joey
Galloway.

"It's not up to me, but I would like to do it," Newman said of
returning punts, a competition which also could involve Cowboys'
sixth-round pick Zuriel Smith, who led the nation in punt returning
last year and has returned three punts for a touchdown in one
game. "We've got a lot of guys who can do it. I want to be the guy
and if I'm able to do that, I certainly will."

First things first, thought, the Cowboys would rather see Newman
shine at cornerback first, and expect the Kansas State rookie to get
more opportunities as times goes along.

During Wednesday's practice, Edwards and Ross worked with the first
team, with Hunter and Mitchell on the second-team unit. But just
plays after the Cowboys went to second-team defense during a team
drill Wednesday, Newman came in for Hunter, possibly the first
example of the club speeding up his learning curve.

"It's hard to tell what he can do right now," Zimmer said. "I can
only really go by what I see in the film. He hasn't been here long.
But I'm sure we'll see plenty of him."

And that's about what the veterans are saying as well.

Sure, the two starting spots are up for grabs, but they also know
that preferences will take priority at some point.

"They drafted (Newman) as the fifth pick, so obviously they want him
to play," Edwards said, referring to flipping sides of the
field. "But right now, I'm the starter. I'm No. 1 until something
changes. I am going to be there. Every year, it's a fight. You have
to prove something every year. He is my teammate and I will help him
as much as I can. But it's a competition."

And according to Ross, competition will make them all better.

"That's what I like, that's what drives me to play better," Ross
said. "When I know we've got a lot of players who can do what you do,
it pushes you. I think we've got a lot of good players here. We need
all of them."

Ross, who tied all rookie cornerbacks with five interceptions last
season, is trying to retain his starting job of last season, but said
he was excited as anyone when the Cowboys used their first-round pick
on another cornerback.

"I liked the pick, I did," Ross said. "He's a good player and we need
him. He's going to help our team. I don't think you can have too many
good playmakers. And obviously, they think he'll turn into that type
of player."

And for the Cowboys' sake, hopefully sooner than later.